We Found All the Best Hair Products and Accessories
​
Of all things, your hair — the first part of you anyone sees, even with your back turned — is worth the investment. Whether you keep it short and bleached or flowing and Gisele-like, we’ve put together an assemblage of products and accessories to keep it looking its best, from the detangling brush that clears the rattiest knots to the dry spray that gives even lifeless hair immediate texture.

Who knew something as simple as taking a shower could be so challenging?
Most of us have been showering regularly since we were kids. We’ve got the whole thing down. Or so we thought. After talking to a hairstylist and dermatologist, we’ve found out a few things that we’re actually doing wrong. Click through and check out if you’re making these showering mistakes.

The water’s too hot.
There’s nothing like starting the day off with a nice hot shower. But if the water temperature is too high, it can actually do more damage than good. “Hot water can strip the natural oils from your skin, leaving it dry and vulnerable to cracking,” explains dermatologist Dendy Engelman. “Losing these oils compromises our skin’s barrier, thus protection from irritants.” This is most dangerous in the winter (when you’re most tempted to use extra hot water) because skin is already prone to dryness.

And apparently hot water isn’t great for hair health either. Butterfly Studio Salon’s expert stylist Jason J Dougherty explains that it’s best to use warm water to open up the hair cuticle to remove dirt and oils. Then, rinse with cold water to close it up. “It will prevent hair loss in the shower, reduce frizz, and add a lot more shine,” he says.

Your water’s unfiltered.
There are certain places that have hard water, which can have a negative effect on your hair and skin. What this means is that the unfiltered water may contain many harmful additives such as minerals, oxidizers, calcium, magnesium, silica, and iron.  “These can leave residue on the skin and hair causing build-up, dryness, and irritations,” explains Dr. Engelman. With the residue leaving a coat over the skin and hair, products are unable to fully penetrate to properly clean the area. This can create dull looking finish to both the hair and skin. Dougherty also explains that these chemicals can strip hair color, dulling out the look. So if you do happen to live in an area with hard water, install a filtering system.

You’re using the wrong cleanser.
Just because you like the smell of the body wash you’ve been using for years, doesn’t mean it’s the best option. A lot of available cleansers contain harmful chemicals, fragrances, parabens, and sulfates, which all can increase flare-ups. Dr. Engelman recommends oil-based cleansers to maintain hydrated, healthy skin. “Oil-based cleansers eliminate impurities without drying out the skin,” she explains. “Essentially the oil binds to the oils on your face and the cleanser rinses them away, without striping your skin of its good natural oils.” 

You’re shampooing too much.
Unless you have ultra-fine, thin hair, you really don’t need to wash it every day. If you’re over-shampooing, the results are similar to using harsh chemicals on your skin. “It strips the hair of its natural oils and will lead to your hair becoming quite dry and brittle over time,” explains Dougherty. So if you notice your hair seems drier than usual, cut back to shampooing every other shower. It’s all about finding the right balance. 

You’re over exfoliating.
Exfoliating can be seriously beneficial to the skin. It rids the skin of any dead skin cells and promotes cell turnover. However, over-exfoliating can do a lot of damage. “It will expose the skin, weaken skin-barrier function and in some cases trigger inflammation,” explains Dr. Engelman. This can create a sort-of vulnerability to the skin and create sensitivity, infection or irritation. Ideally, you only need to be exfoliating two or three times a week. And if you are experiencing any sensitivity or inflammation, you should cut back.

You don’t moisturizer post-shower.
Dr. Engelman notes that the few minutes post-shower can be just as important as those spent in the shower. And post-shower, moisturizing is key. “Applying oil and lotion on wet skin will allow the product to lock moisture in by trapping some of the water on the skin,” she explains. “Keeping it from evaporating, the glycerin in the lotion helps to bind to water molecules, which not only gives a soft, supple feeling but strengthens the skin barrier.” This little shift in habit can make all the difference to the skin’s health and overall feel.

This article first appeared on Domino.com

Find a hair or grooming product, look at the packaging and count how many symbols you know the meaning of. Pretty tricky, isn’t it! 

In this post, I shine a light on some of the most common symbols that you’ll find on your hair and grooming products; what they mean; and why you should care.

Click here for the rest of the post.

Should I regularly change my shampoo and conditioner?

There’s a common belief that you should frequently change your shampoo and conditioner to feel the benefits to your hair. But is this really the case?
 
There’s no proof to the myth that your hair builds up ‘resistance’ to certain products over time. However, if you were to use one shampoo and conditioner over the space of a year, there would be months when your hair would feel nourished and healthy, interchanged with times when it may feel dry and dull. So if it’s not the shampoo and conditioner themselves causing a change in your hair, what is the culprit?  
 
What is true is that like any other beauty regimen, your hair products should change based on several factors.  There are absolutely loads of factors that can affect your hair and its condition.  I’ve gathered together some of the most common ones:
 
Environmental
It’s easy to blame the seasons for the change in your hair, but it’s actually a lot more complicated.  Weather can play a huge part in determining how your hair reacts to products. For instance, in the summer you may find hair becomes dry and brittle from exposure to the sun.   Summer heat can also leave scalps oilier than normal, so you may need to reach for a less-hydrating option with a volumizing formula to help.  But equally your hair can suffer the same dryness from central heating in the winter so opt for products with super moisturizing ingredients to rehydrate strands that have been scorched by over-heated, under-humidified indoor environments.  Environmental factors also include things like pollution, sand and chlorine.  If you swim regularly, regardless of the time of year, you may find your color is prone to fading, and hair can be dry and hard to detangle.  Pollution can cause hair to become lank and greasy quicker.  By pin-pointing the specific environmental factors that affect your hair, and how these change throughout the year, you can then start to build a product regime to keep your hair in its best condition.
 
Chemical
This covers any coloring or texturizing service you may use on your hair. Hair color, especially bleach, can completely change the feel and condition of your hair. Whereas some colors can nourish hair leaving it soft and silky, other colors can cause the hair shaft to swell, leaving hair feeling thicker but drier than before. Ask your hairdresser what effect the color being used will have on your hair, then choose products accordingly that can target this.
 
Dietary Changes
Eating fat (good or bad!) can give your hair that much-desired shine and gloss. “If you’re getting essential fatty acids from red meat or an avocado, you may feel like you need less moisturizing products,” Doug Bielanski, the national director of education at Frederic Fekkai says. But for those lean-eaters who forego fat, know that locks can end up looking dry or parched. “You need a hair mask for five minutes, once or twice a week, to push humectants back in the hair.”
 
Age
“Hair naturally changes with age”
As you grow older it isn’t just your hair color that can change, but also your hair texture. Some people may find their hair becomes coarse, dull and unmanageable, whereas others may suffer from hair thinning and softening. Look for age specific products that contain ingredients designed to target these problems and help restore its intrinsic strength.
 
The key to a successful haircare regime is to always stay attuned to your hair’s condition, and be prepared to mix up your products depending on your it’s current needs. For example if your hair is colored and dry but limp, there is nothing wrong with using a color-protect shampoo followed by a nourishing shampoo and a thickening spray to build more volume at the roots. Once hair is back in better condition you could then look to start using more volume products – let your hair tell you what it needs!
 
So in answer to the question ‘should I regularly change my shampoo and conditioner?’ the answer is:
 
Change your shampoo and conditioner when your hair tells you to. Don’t just reassess the products you’re using at the end of each bottle. Consider investing in maybe 2 or 3 different shampoos and conditioners, then pick and choose which one you use based on how your hair feels.